US embassy cable - 05ALMATY2878

UNCLAS ALMATY 002878 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN (JMUDGE), EUR/RPM 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KZ, POLITICAL 
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  CICA MEETING DISCUSSES CREATION OF 
SECRETARIAT, WORKING GROUPS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  The Conference for Interaction and 
Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is taking steps 
to establish a Secretariat and working groups to develop 
regional confidence-building measures.  The creation of a 
Secretariat might result in a call for donations.  The GOK 
 
SIPDIS 
is also eager to organize a conference with the OSCE to 
obtain organizational advice.  End summary. 
 
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Secretariat, Working Groups 
 
SIPDIS 
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2. (SBU) Senior officials of the Conference for Interaction 
and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) met in 
Almaty on August 8 to discuss operational issues.  Agreement 
was reached to establish two working groups to develop 
confidence-building measures in the areas of political- 
military relations and economic, environmental, and human 
dimension issues, as agreed at the October 2004 CICA Summit. 
A proposal to establish a CICA Secretariat in Almaty was 
referred back to capitals for further commentary.  The draft 
statute for the CICA Secretariat lists the sources of 
financing for the new organization as voluntary 
contributions from member states and voluntary contributions 
from observers, international organizations, institutions, 
and other entities. 
 
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Joint Event with OSCE? 
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3. (SBU) OSCE Center human dimension officer Bjorn 
Halvarsson told POEC chief that the GOK has been pushing the 
OSCE to agree to a conference with CICA members to discuss 
how the organization should be structured.  The OSCE is not 
enthusiastic about the idea, according to Halvarsson, seeing 
it as an ineffective way to exchange such information.  The 
OSCE has told the GOK that it needs to obtain the agreement 
of all other OSCE members for the proposal to move forward. 
 
4. (SBU) Comment:  It is possible that the GOK will approach 
the USG as an observer for financial assistance to create 
the CICA Secretariat.  Given Kazakhstan's rapidly increasing 
budget revenues, and President Nazarbayev's personal 
commitment to the success of the organization, post believes 
such assistance is neither necessary nor the best use of our 
resources. 
 
5. (U) Minimize for Dushanbe considered. 
 
ASQUINO 
 
 
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